Creating bevel effects

A bevel effect adds three-dimensional depth to a graphic or text object by making its edges appear sloped (cut at an angle). Bevel effects can contain both spot and process (CMYK) colors, so they are ideal for printing.

You can remove a bevel effect at any time.


Bevel styles

You can choose from the following bevel styles:

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Soft edge — creates beveled surfaces that appear shaded in some areas
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Emboss — makes an object appear as a relief

CorelDRAW 3d bevel styles Creating bevel effects

Left to right: Logo without a bevel effect, with a Soft Edge bevel effect, and with an Emboss bevel effect


Beveled surfaces

You can control the intensity of the bevel effect by specifying the width of the beveled surface.


Light and color

An object with a bevel effect appears lit by white ambient (surrounding) light and a spotlight. The ambient light is of low intensity and cannot be changed. The spotlight is also white by default, but you can change its color, intensity, and location. Changing the spotlight color affects the color of the beveled surfaces. Changing the spotlight’s intensity lightens or darkens the beveled surfaces. Changing the location of the spotlight determines which beveled surfaces appear lit.

You can change the location of the spotlight by specifying its direction and altitude. Direction determines where the light source is located in the plane of the object (for example, to the left or right of an object). Altitude determines how high the spotlight is located in relation to the object’s plane. For example, you can place the spotlight flush with the horizon (altitude of 0° ) or directly above the object (altitude of 90°).

In addition, you can change the color of the beveled surfaces that are in shadow by specifying a shadow color.


To create a Soft Edge bevel effect

CorelDRAW btnbacktotop Creating bevel effects
1.
 
Select an object that is closed and has a fill applied to it.
2.
 
Click Effects CorelDRAW onestep Creating bevel effects Bevel.
3.
 
In the Bevel docker, choose Soft edge from the Style list box.
4.
 
Enable one of the following Bevel offset options:
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To center — lets you create beveled surfaces that meet in the middle of the object
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Distance — lets you specify the width of the beveled surfaces. Type a value in the Distance box.

You can also
Change the color of beveled surfaces in shadow
Choose a color from the Shadow color picker.

Beveled surfaces change to a shade of the specified shadow color.
Choose a spotlight color
Choose a color from the Light color picker.
Change the intensity of the spotlight
Move the Intensity slider.
Specify the position of the spotlight
Move either of the following sliders:
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Direction
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Altitude

Direction values range from 0° to 360°; altitude values range from 0° to 90°.

CorelDRAW note Creating bevel effects

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The lowest altitude value (0°) places the spotlight on the plane of the object; the highest altitude value (90°) places the spotlight directly above the object.
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Using a given altitude value, you can change the spotlight’s location by changing the direction value. For example, at an altitude of 45°, the following direction values change the spotlight location as noted:
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45° places the spotlight on the upper right.
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135° places the spotlight on the upper left.
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225° places the spotlight on the lower left.
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315° places the spotlight on the lower right.
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The effect of the shadow color is most apparent when the spotlight is located close to the object’s plane (low altitude value).

To create an Emboss effect

CorelDRAW btnbacktotop Creating bevel effects
1.
 
Select an object that is closed and has a fill applied to it.
2.
 
Click Effects CorelDRAW onestep Creating bevel effects Bevel.
3.
 
In the Bevel docker, choose Emboss from the Style list box.
4.
 
In the Distance box, type a low value.
5.
 
To change the intensity of the spotlight, move the Intensity slider.
6.
 
To specify the direction of the spotlight, move the Direction slider.
7.
 
Click Apply.
If you want to create a more pronounced bevel effect, type a higher value in the Distance box, and reapply the effect.

You can also
Choose a shadow color
Choose a color from the Shadow color picker.
Choose a spotlight color
Choose a color from the Light color picker.

CorelDRAW note Creating bevel effects

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The Emboss bevel effect is achieved by creating two duplicates of the object. The duplicates are offset in opposite directions: one toward the light source and the other away from the light source. The color of the duplicate placed toward the spotlight is a blend of the spotlight and object colors and depends on the light intensity. The color of the duplicate placed away from the spotlight is a 50 percent blend of the shadow and object colors.
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The Altitude slider is disabled for the Emboss bevel style.

To remove a bevel effect

CorelDRAW btnbacktotop Creating bevel effects
1.
 
Select an object with a bevel effect applied.
2.
 
Click Effects CorelDRAW onestep Creating bevel effects Clear effect.

Creating bevel effects